Hunting decoy harness with wing accessories and method of use

ABSTRACT

A hunting decoy having two pairs of receiver slots for receiving a wire wing attachment which is flexible and moves gently when wind or air passes over a cloth clover of the wing attachment. A hook ring attached to the bottom of the wing allows a string to connect the wing to the ground or underneath of the body of the decoy to the other wing to provide a gentle bend to the wings and to prevent them from flying upwards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority in,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/493,417, Filed Apr. 21, 2017, whichclaims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/326,120Filed Apr. 22, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a hunting decoy harness andmethod for use thereof, and more specifically to a hunting decoywire-framed harness with wing accessories for use with existing huntingdecoys.

2. Description of the Related Art

Existing hunting decoys for geese and other birds have been ratherstandardized over the past twenty-plus years. These include models forall varieties of fowl and bird. Some standard decoys include the Bigfootand B2 models of goose decoys sold by Cabela's Inc. of Sidney, Nebraska.Others include: the Fully Body Decoys manufactured by Dakota DecoyCompany of Vermillion, South Dakota; various decoys by Flambeau, Inc. ofMiddlefield, Ohio; and other similar solid-bodied decoys.

These decoys are generally stationary and require being placed on theground. It is common for hunters to own dozens of these decoys and todeploy them around an area. However, geese and other birds soon learnwhat to look for with these stationary, standard decoys and learn toavoid their placement. What is needed is a modification for theseexisting decoys which allows the decoys to appear more life-like togeese and other birds such that they are more effective for attractingthese birds.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a decoyharness with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a harness assembly for ahunting decoy, such as a goose or crane decoy. The harness is made ofwire for flexibility such that it can fit over most/all standard huntingdecoys. The harness is made from a single piece of wire bent and formedwith a central back arch, two side angles which bend generallyperpendicular from the arch on either side, which then are bent againseveral times and terminate into leg hooks for hooking around the legsof the decoy, thereby securing the harness in place. Optionally, if thedecoy has no legs, the lower portions of the harness can interlockbeneath the decoy's body.

The top corners of the harness include receiver slots for receiving awire wing attachment which is flexible and moves gently when wind or airpasses over a cloth clover of the wing attachment. The wire wingattachments include frames formed to appear structurally similar to thewings of a goose or other bird. The covers are made of a soft, durablematerial such as Tyvek ® cloth. A preferred embodiment would have thecloth crinkled and crumpled to create a softer exterior to the cloth.This exterior may be painted or otherwise colored to more accuratelyresemble a bird wing. A hook ring attached to the bottom of the wingallows a string to connect the wing to the ground or underneath of thebody of the decoy to the other wing to provide a gentle bend to thewings and to prevent them from flying upwards.

No motor or other device is used to make the wings and feet move—allmovement is due to wind and the flexibility of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating variousobjects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention at a first step.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention at a second step.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a harness element of thepresent invention thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the present inventionin a typical environment of a decoy body having no leg elements.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a wing frame elementthereof.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view diagramming the combination of multipleelements of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view continuing the process from FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view continuing the process from FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a prior art foot element.

FIG. 11B is an alternative foot element which can be used in conjunctionwith a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention mounted on a pole structure.

FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional isometric view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention wherein the harness elements arebuilt directly into the body of the decoy.

FIG. 14 is a three-dimensional isometric view thereof showing a secondstep of attaching the wing frames.

FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional isometric view thereof showing a thirdstep of placing the wing covers to the wing frames.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Introduction andEnvironment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosedherein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects aremerely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart how to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description forconvenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up,down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientatedin the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly”refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometriccenter of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof.Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction oftravel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the wordsspecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similarmeaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Hunting Decoy Harness System 2

FIG. 1 shows a hunting decoy harness system 2, including a wire-framedharness 8. The rest of the system, as further detailed in FIGS. 2-9 showadditional elements, including wing wire frames 24 covered in cloth wingcovers 44. Receivers 18 for receiving the wing wire frames 24 onto thewire-framed harness are welded onto front 14 and rear 16 plates onto theharness 8. They receive wing wire frame 24 ends 38. This entire systemis installed on a standard decoy 4 provided by a third party of anysize. The harness is designed to fit most or all solid bodied decoys.

The harness frame is made of semi-flexible wire such that it fits snuglyover the body of the decoy. FIG. 3 shows the harness 8 alone. Theharness 8 generally includes a wire frame which has a curved arch 10designed to sit on the back of the decoy body, and two side wires 12which connect front 14 and rear 16 welded plates. The side wires 12 arebent into a lower portion 20 which terminates into a hooked end 22 forwrapping behind the legs 6 of the decoy 4. The curved arch 10 mayinclude a tab 28 for receiving a screw or other connector for securingthe harness 8 to the back of the decoy 4. A secondary structural wire 26may also be included between the receivers 18 on either side of theharness 8 and may further be used to secure the wing sleeve 44 asdiscussed below. The sleeve could be painted to resemble a bird's wingsor could be screen printed with an actual photo of a bird's wings for amore realistic effect.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower portions 20 of the harness8 can be further bent such that the hooked ends 22 interlock with oneanother, thereby securing the harness about the body of a decoy with orwithout leg 6 elements.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a wire wing 24 element. The wing has a wire frame 30which terminates into two end inserts 38 which are received by thereceivers 18 on the harness 8. Structural cross wires 36 help to keepthe shape of the wire wing 24. A frontal structural wire 32 may includea loop 34 or other tie-down receiver for receiving a string or othertie-down element for securing the wing to the ground, the decoy, oranother surface. This prevents the wings from lifting the harness off ofthe body due to wind.

The wire wing includes a front edge 40 and a rear edge 42. A wing sleeve44 fits over the wire wing 24 and helps to secure the wing to theharness 8 as shown in FIGS. 7-10. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a flap 50can be wrapped about side wires 12 and/or secondary structural wire 26of the harness. A hook-and-loop fastener can secure the flap 50 to themain body of the sleeve 44, with a first portion hook-and-loop fastener46 on the sleeve 44 and a second portion hook-and-loop fastener 48 onthe flap 50. The wing sleeves are made of a soft material intended notto make much noise when rustled by the wind. Suitable material includescrumpled Tyvek ®cloth or suitable material which provides highdurability in the wind and other elements. The material may be paintedor otherwise colored. The wings are designed to resemble natural wingsand when the decoy is placed in a field, the wings catch the wind andraise and lower in a natural manner.

FIG. 11A shows a prior art solid foot 52 which is connected to the leg 6of a decoy 4. The foot 52 has an inset 54 which connects to the leg 6and a base 56 which resembles the foot of a bird and which helps tobalance the decoy. When raised in the air, these prior art feet 52remain fixed, rigid, and unnatural.

FIG. 11B shows a new foot 58 which connects to the leg 6 of the decoy 4.The connector 60 may be similar to that of the prior art, or may simplytie or otherwise engage the base of the leg 6 of the decoy 4. The footportion 62 is made of the same material as the wing sleeve 44. Whenraised in the air such as via a pole and round washer as shown in FIG.11, these feet will move gently in the breeze, simulating real lifemovement. The wings cause the decoy to turn into the wind about theround washer, simulating an actual bird landing or taking off from afield. This provides a real, life-like appearance to an otherwisestationary static decoy which provides superior performance of the decoynot provided by the base model

III. Alternative Embodiment Raised Decoy with Hunting Decoy HarnessSystem 102

FIG. 12 shows the hunting decoy harness system 2 as described above, butin this alternative embodiment system 102, the decoy 4 is raised intothe air on top of a pole 64. A round washer 66 or other rotatablepedestal mount receives the base of the decoy and allows it to turnfreely as wind blows the wings 22/24. The feet 58 also move in thebreeze. Ties 68 connect to the loops 34 of the wings and prevent themfrom raising to far, such that they remain natural and appear to beflapping in the wind.

A hole could be drilled through the body of the decoy 4 such that thetop of the pole 64 pokes through the decoy 4 and is received by the tab28. A pin could be used to secure the pole 64 end into the tab 28, andthe decoy can rotate about the pole. Alternatively, if the user didn'twant to drill a hole through the decoy, a bungee cord could be wrappedabout the body of the decoy 4 about the two front plates and that couldbe fastened to the pole. Alternatively, another pair of wire legs couldwrap about the body of the decoy 4, where one end of each leg is weldedto a respective front plate 14, and the other end of each leg areconnected beneath the decoy 4 about the pole.

IV. Alternative Embodiment Decoy System 202

FIGS. 13-15 show a decoy system 202 wherein a decoy 204 includes front214 and rear 216 connectors which include receivers 218 for receivingthe wing wire frames 24, just as indicated in the previous embodiments.Here, the connectors 214, 216 are either built directly into the body204 of the decoy, or are affixed to the exterior of the decoy 204 withscrews, tape, adhesive, or some other semi-permanent affixing means.This foregoes the requirement to use a harness, and instead incorporatesthe elements of that invention directly into the body of the decoy,providing a location to hook up the wing frames 24 and wing covers 44 aspreviously discussed. A matching pair of front 214 and rear 216 platesand receivers 218 are located on the opposite side as shown in FIGS.13-15.

Optionally, the decoy system 202 may include a structural wire 226 whichcan be used to receive part of the wing covers 44 as in the embodimentdescribed above. Additionally, a tab and receiver hole 228 can be usedto receive a pole for mounting the decoy 204.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects ofthe invention have been shown and described, the invention is notlimited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A hunting decoy systemcomprising: a hunting decoy having a body with a top face, two sidefaces, and a bottom face; two sets of receivers each containing a frontreceive rand a rear receiver, whereby each set of receivers is connectedto one of said two side faces of said hunting decoy body; a pair ofwire-framed wings, each terminating into a pair of end tips configuredto be inserted into a respective set of said receivers; and a pair ofwing sleeves, each configured to be placed over one of said pair ofwire-framed wings, and each of said pair of wing sleeves including aflap which wraps about a portion of said wire-framed harness.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: said hunting decoy including apair of legs affixed to said bottom face; and wherein each one of saidside members are further bent to lock behind a respective one of saidpair of legs.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a tie havinga first end and second end; each side wire-framed wing including a loopfor receiving first end of said tie; and said second end of said tieconfigured to be affixed to a stationary body, thereby preventing saidwire-framed wings from raising above a fixed angle based upon a lengthof said tie.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said stationary body issaid hunting decoy.
 5. The system of claim 3, further comprising: saidhunting decoy suspended above a ground plane on a pole; and wherein saidstationary body is said pole.
 6. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a pole placed beneath a ground plane and said hunting decoy,whereby said hunting decoy is mounted onto said pole; and a rotatabledisk interfacing with said hunting decoy and said pole, such that saidhunting decoy is capable of being rotated on a horizontal plane about atop end of said pole.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising: ahole drilled through said hunting decoy; said pole configured to passthrough said hole; and an end tip of said pole configured to be receivedwithin a tab located along said arced front support.
 8. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said wing sleeves are screen printed to resemble abird's wings.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: each one ofsaid pair of wing sleeves having a first connector element; each one ofsaid pair of wing sleeve flaps having a second connector element; andwhereby said first connector element and said second connector elementare configured to interlock, securing said flap about a portion of saidwire-framed harness.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said firstconnector element and said second connector element are comprised ofhook and loop fasteners.
 11. A method of setting up a hunting decoy, themethod comprising the steps: connecting a pair of wire-framed wings topair of connector sets, each set containing a front and rear connector,wherein said connectors are directly connected to a hunting decoy havinga body with a top face, two side faces, and a bottom face, saidconnector sets are each placed on a respective one of said two sidefaces, and wherein said wire-framed wings each terminate into a pair ofend tips configured to be inserted into a respective set of receivers;placing a respective one of a pair of wing sleeves onto a respective oneof said pair of wire-framed wings, each of said pair of wing sleevesincluding a flap; and wrapping each flap about a portion of said decoybody.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step: bendingsaid pair of side members to lock behind a respective one of a pair oflegs affixed to said bottom face of said hunting decoy.
 13. The methodof claim 11, further comprising the steps: connecting a first end of atie to a loop of a selected one of said wire-framed wings; andconnecting a second end of said tie to a stationary body, therebypreventing said selected one wire-framed wing from raising above a fixedangle based upon a length of said tie.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein said stationary body is said hunting decoy.
 15. The method ofclaim 13, wherein said hunting decoy is suspended above a ground planeupon a pole, and wherein said stationary body is said pole.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising the steps: mounting said huntingdecoy upon a pole; and interfacing said hunting decoy with a diskaffixed to said pole such that said hunting decoy is capable of beingrotated on a horizontal plane about a top end of said pole.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein: said pole includes a bend in proximity to afirst end of said pole; said first end of said pole inserted into afixed location; and wherein said pole is configured to rotate and pitchabout said fixed location.